Background: Options Community Services Society (OCSS)
Options Community Services is a non-profit organization that provides social services primarily in Surrey, Delta, White Rock and Langley. They promote a sustainable and creative community for everyone to enjoy living in. From 2009, they were a result of a merge between Surrey Community Service Society and OPTIONS: Services to Communities Society. United together, they will strive to improve the communities of all place around the service regions.
Company Vision:
We inspire hope and belonging for all.
Company Mission:
We are a diverse organization, united in the purpose of helping people to help themselves and promoting safe, healthy, vibrant communities.
Company Values:
Diversity – At OCSS, everyone has a voice. We are inclusive, respectful and fair.
Integrity – We are accountable, honest and compassionate.
Resourcefulness – We are creative, flexible and innovative.
Collaboration – We work collaboratively as partners and teams within the organization and
broader community.
Excellence – We go above and beyond ordinary and strive towards the exceptional and
extraordinary.
Website: http://www.options.bc.ca/families-children/family-resource-programs
Site: Green space at Guildford Family Place
10310 – 154 St. Surrey, BC V3R 0B3
Project Goals: Design elements in a green, living, outdoor space at Guildford Family Place for children(0-6 age) to explore and reconnect with nature. This space is to encourage the children to discover and investigate nature’s wonders to help develop the children’s curiosity of life. The community around the area and people who uses the Guildford Family Place facility will benefit from the new additions to the park.
Topics/Issues that we covered: Negotiable and Non-Negotiable
Negotiable Constraints
- Varying budget can be adjusted with client’s agreement
- Design can be assembled through multiple volunteers
- The design can be situated anywhere on the site
- Design can be altered to our standings as long as it is within the client’s timeframe and resources
Non-Negotiable Constraints
- Red truck play toy cannot be moved due to its deep foundation into the ground
- The outhouse shed cannot be moved
- Has to be low maintenance
- The design must include safety factors and age appropriate
- The “Nature” theme must be incorporated
Strategy to the Project:
Our current CBEL group has been doing research on the possible designs that could meet the requirements and provide a sustainable, natural design to the client’s needs. We have looked through many designs including hobbit hills, wooden bridges, musical instruments, green walls, etc). Through the research, we designed a few large structures, and layout plans in hopes of reorganizing and changing the theme to nature and sustainable use. In the end, we have decided to focus on one major aspect of those designs and improve more on it’s physical and interesting features. This will help ourselves with time to construct and provide more specific details on the design.
A possible design option for a green playground space.